Stewardship case study
Boer and Brit: Promoting stewardship in a culturally
diverse landscape
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The cultural landscape in South Africa is as varied as its biodiversity. This diversity
of peoples and values has a profound impact on landowner attitude to conservation
and therefore to stewardship. Stewardship extension officers need to establish a
relationship which reveals and transcends these differences. This case study
explores the differences in landowner attitudes towards conservation in the Little
Karoo, and discusses the impact of these differences on conservation work.
CHANGES IN BROADER LITTLE KAROO LANDSCAPE
Land Ownership and Management
Since the mid 1800s the Little Karoo has been farmed by small, close-knit
Afrikaans communities. The peak population density occurred during the early
1900s when there was an ostrich boom which brought unprecedented financial
security to the farming community which, until then, had largely functioned at a
subsistence level.
In the Little Karoo there is an influx of new landowners
buying land for tourism, for their own recreation and for
retirement. This change in ownership is associated with a
change in land management and has led to large scale
restoration as stocking levels are reduced and control of
’pest species’, such as predators is ceased.
Although this benefits conservation, it has accelerated the
decline in farming by increasing land prices, decreasing
economies of scale and increasing conflict between the
remaining farmers and ‘pest species’. This can lead to
tensions between traditional farmers and the new
immigrants.
In our case study, reaching an agreement on stewardship
was complicated by co-ownership of land by new Englishspeaking immigrants and a traditional Afrikaans farmer.
This was resolved by through independent mediation and
clear communication in the mother tongues of all parties.
During this period most farmers had an area of arable land close to the village,
which was used for crops. They also had rights to graze their livestock on a clearly
specified section of the surrounding mountains. Often this mountain land was
owned by several landowners and managed as commonage. Labour was provided
by large extended families, and over time the farms were subdivided to provide
land for each new generation. The introduction of the first significant commercial
product, the ostrich, made it possible for people to make a reasonable living on a
very small area.
The intensive farming of ostriches and small stock such as goats in this semi-arid
area caused significant degradation of the veld. The most intense degradation
occurred during the early 1930s when the depression, combined with drought, led
to serious overstocking. As desperate farmers left the land for the cities, they often
abandoned stock, including draught animals which could not be sold. The
Calitzdorp district was particularly badly affected, and today is still one of the most
degraded in the Western Cape.
Since the 1930s the region has experienced steady depopulation as farmers have
continued to leave the land for the city. In the remote villages of the Ladismith
District, depopulation has accelerated during the past ten years and very few
traditional farmers remain. Traditional social structures, such as the church, are
barely functional, and there are fewer transport options for goods or people.
In 1996, there were 42 farmers in the local farmers‟ association; by 2008 only six
remained. Recent surveys show that most of the remaining farmers in this area
are battling financially, as input costs rise and the decreasing number of farmers
make economies of scale difficult to achieve. For example, buyers no longer come
out to the region to collect goods, and the farmers must consequently transport
their own produce to larger centres for sale. In addition, many farmers have sold
off portions of land to survive external shocks, such as floods and drought, and
many farming units are now too small to be economically viable.
Over the past ten years there has been a new wave of immigration as city people
have moved into this remote area. These new landowners are attracted to the
peace, and to the beauty and diversity of the natural environment. The majority of
these people are not seeking to make a living from the land, and would like to
promote the conservation of the plants, animals and landscapes that attracted
them to the area. Most of them have alternative sources of income and many are
involved in tourism. Land prices have increased to three times their agricultural
value, and the remaining farmers are therefore no longer able to expand and
consolidate their holdings.
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Many of these new immigrants are English-speaking and find it difficult to
communicate with the remnants of the traditional Afrikaans farming community.
This has led to a lack of integration into local social structures and the
development of an alternative community of “newcomers”. There remains a strong
sense of “us” and “them” between the two communities. There is also a high
percentage of absentee landowners who are only present for a small portion of the
year: This has further reduced the community size and viability, leading to a sense
of loss and alienation for the remnants of the traditional Afrikaans farming
community. As one elderly farmer explained, “People will no longer remember the
old place names, or the stories of those who lie buried here”.
Ecological Impact
Changes in land management associated with a decrease in farming, and an
increase in tourism, have led to a significant improvement in the ecological
condition of the land. This is due to reduced stocking rates and decreased
pressure on predators.
Many areas are no longer grazed by domestic livestock and are slowly recovering.
Time series photography indicates that many parts of this district have experienced
significant improvement in vegetation cover.
In the past, the control of „pest species‟ such as predators (leopards, jackal and
caracal), baboons and porcupines was actively encouraged by state incentives.
This led to community hunts and the erection of subsidized jackal-proof fencing.
These subsidies have now been removed and instead there are strict state
restrictions on how species such as leopard may be controlled.
This change in regulatory environment, coupled with a reduction in the number of
active farmers, has reduced pressure on predators and other pest species. The
numbers of „pest species‟ in the region has therefore significantly increased. This
has led to increased conflict with the remaining farmers. Many farmers now use
alternative approaches, such as Anatolian sheepdogs, to protect stock against
predators. Others have changed from small stock, such as sheep and goats, to
cattle which are less vulnerable to predators. They also avoid growing crops which
are particularly attractive to baboons. These approaches are more compatible with
conservation.
CASE STUDY: NEGOTIATION IN A COMPLEX SOCIAL CONTEXT
The Gouritz Initiative was established in this region to promote the establishment
of a living landscape in which people use the region‟s biodiversity in a sustainable
manner. The Initiative targeted specific corridors whose conservation will secure
the ecological function of the whole landscape. CapeNature is focusing their
stewardship programme in these key corridors. Stakeholders in the region have
recently agreed to embark on a public participation process around establishing a
Gouritz Biosphere Reserve.
Mr and Mrs “Brit” bought land in one of these corridors in 1994. Their objective was
to retire from academia and to live self-sufficiently on the land, while conserving its
biodiversity and restoring areas which had been degraded. They therefore
approached CapeNature regarding stewardship options, as they wanted to
conserve the land they had bought, in perpetuity. The land they owned was
deemed to be important for conservation, and therefore suitable for the
establishment of a contract nature reserve, as it:
adjoins an existing government conservation area. Its conservation
would therefore significantly improve the connectivity of the landscape.
forms an important upland-lowland link for nectivores.
contains eight different veld types, including representatives of
threatened veld types, which occurred here in unusually good condition.
protects several threatened species.
had a low management burden, as it was undeveloped and largely free
of invasive alien plants.
The land bought by Mr and Mrs Brit has two separate title deeds. The first title they
own outright. The second title comprises 4/5 undivided shares, the other 1/5 share
belonging to a local farmer, Mnr “Boer”. A stewardship agreement was quickly
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Contact Person:
Anita Wheeler
Tel: 044-203 6300
Fax: 044-272 8110
Email: [email protected]
signed regarding the land which they own outright, creating a contract nature
reserve that will conserve the area in perpetuity.
The situation regarding the title for the undivided shares was more complex:
Although initial negotiations had taken place with Mnr Boer, little progress had
been made. When a new stewardship officer was appointed to the area in 2007,
she immediately became aware of a high level of conflict. Mnr Boer felt that “die
Engelse”, were not recognizing his rights to 1/5th of the shared title and that
CapeNature, as representative of the government were siding with them.
In recognition of the delicacy of the situation, instead of arguing the point, the
stewardship officer arranged a meeting with a local lawyer who explained the
concept of undivided shares of land. Undivided shares are very common in this
region, particularly in the mountain land which was previously used as communal
grazing. In most areas involving undivided shares, no permanent structures are
constructed. However, Mnr Boer‟s father had constructed a fence, dividing off a
portion of the undivided shares, which he then used as grazing. This usage pattern
had created the impression of outright legal ownership which was, in fact, not the
case.
The intervention of an independent, third, party helped to diffuse the tension, and
Mnr Boer agreed to re-open negotiations once he understood that participation in a
stewardship agreement would still allow him to continue use a portion of the
shared title for sustainably managed grazing.
The next hurdle became apparent when the stewardship officer came with a
contract written in English, to discuss with Mnr Boer. It was clear that there was a
very real language barrier, with Mrs Brit being unable to speak any Afrikaans and
Mnr Boer not comfortable in English. The stewardship officer immediately agreed
to have the contract translated, and all stewardship material in this predominantly
Afrikaans area is now available in Afrikaans. This contract was then explained to
him in Afrikaans, by a lawyer. Indeed, once Mnr Boer had a contract he could
understand, he was even comfortable with signing the English version.
Fortunately, the stewardship officer was fluent in both English and Afrikaans as her
role in promoting communication between the two parties was critical. Indeed, the
fact that she was of Afrikaans descent helped Mnr Boer, who had been very
distrustful of the process, to trust her. She has noted that farmers in the area often
visibly relax when she starts the negotiation process in fluent Afrikaans.
In contrast, the fact that Mrs Brit does not speak any Afrikaans has limited her
social interaction. The Brits do not participate in the more traditional village
festivals and activities. Her potential to play a leading role in the local conservancy
has also been limited by her inability to communicate in Afrikaans. They have,
however, made friends with other like-minded people in the local village and Mrs
Brit plays a supportive role in the conservancy.
Managing the Land Together
As the land was undivided, both landowners had to agree on all aspects of the
contract. For this reason, although the title which Mr and Mrs Brit owned outright
was committed in perpetuity as a contract nature reserve, the land co-owned by
Mnr Brit only has a 30 year contract, as this was the maximum Mnr Boer was
comfortable with.
Once the land was contracted as a stewardship site, a management plan was
drawn up. As there was still a high level of tension between the two landowners it
was critical that all potential areas of conflict were clearly resolved in the
management contract.
The key issue has been the maintenance of fencing to prevent the Nguni cattle
belonging to Mnr Boer from escaping onto the rest of the property. Mrs and Mr Brit
regard the land lying on Mnr Boer‟s side of the fence as being severely degraded,
and feel that the seed-bank maintained on their land is critical for maintaining the
long term potential for restoration.
CapeNature has supplied a team who removed the few aliens on the property.
They also removed all internal fencing, except for that separating the land grazed
by Mnr Boer‟s cattle. Mr and Mrs Brit have also planted a few trees to help restore
the river courses.
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During the first year the stewardship officer was called out frequently to help
resolve disputes. Each time she referred both parties back to the principles
outlined in the management plan. As a consequence, for the last year they have
been better able to resolve their disputes themselves.
Lessons Learned
Landowner personality, perceptions and background will influence
decision making. It is therefore important to understand people‟s context
and what is important to them. In this case Mr and Mrs Brit, and Mnr
Boer, had very different priorities. It is important to understand and
respect all perspectives.
Where there is a high level of conflict, independent, professional
mediation may be a worthwhile investment. This can protect the
stewardship officer from having to take sides, as this would negatively
impact on his/her long term relationship with the landowners. In this
case, the lawyer provided this function, ensuring that Mnr Boer felt that
his rights were not being undermined and that his concerns were
respected.
Communication in mother tongue is essential. Even when parties can
undertake basic communication in another language, it is unlikely that
they will truly feel comfortable undertaking legal commitments which
they do not fully understand because of language differences. For the
same reason, language in contracts should be kept as simple and
jargon-free as possible.
Patience and honesty are critical in stewardship negotiations. It is
important to recognize that landowners are making a long term
commitment. It may take them some time to feel sufficiently comfortable
to make this decision. They need to feel that their concerns, raised
during the negotiation process, are respected and addressed where
possible.
It is important that all issues which are important to the landowners are
addressed in the contract. Where there is co-ownership it is critical that
all potential areas of conflict are addressed, both in the stewardship
contract and in the management plan.
Date: November 2009
Key Words:
Stewardship, conflict resolution, language barriers, cultural
differences
In this case a positive outcome for conservation was achieved, despite there being
high levels of conflict initially. The key was developing a positive relationship with
both landowners. Even though the stewardship officer knew that Mnr Boer was
incorrect in his understanding of the legal ownership of the land, she did not fight
with him directly over this issue. By respectfully listening to his views and getting a
respected third party to explain the issue, the problem was resolved. This positive
interaction and the trust thereby engendered between them, led to Mnr Boer giving
the stewardship officer the go-ahead to proceed with the stewardship agreement
and laid the foundation for a gradual improvement in relations with Mr and Mrs Brit
over the management of the land.
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